Are you talking about tools to chase and face or to install the cups? If chasing and facing, does anyone who got into riding in the past couple years? So many bikes with press-in bearings it doesn't seem like a good investment to me, most of my bikes are pf30.

carleton

05-23-13 06:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wens
(Post 15660055)

Are you talking about tools to chase and face or to install the cups? If chasing and facing, does anyone who got into riding in the past couple years? So many bikes with press-in bearings it doesn't seem like a good investment to me, most of my bikes are pf30.

No. My point is that you need a special tool to install the SRAM BB into modern frames:

I've watched this many, many times where a guy will have a list of components for a build on a budget, and not take into account little things like:
- Shipping
- Labor
- Tools
- Costs of buying the wrong part and having to ship back or buy it again

It's simply easier, cheaper, and faster to buy a complete bike. The kid could either go to a shop and buy a complete bike tomorrow from a shop and ride tomorrow or go to the shop and figure out his size and order a bike and have it by next week. If he goes the a-la-carte route, it will take weeks before he's riding and the budget a-la-carte parts will be not much better than a complete bike that he could buy for less and have much faster. It's simply not the best way to go about this. It's not.

A-la-carte bike building works well when you know what you need, those needs are very particular, and you know what you are doing.

wens

05-23-13 07:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by carleton
(Post 15660106)

It's simply easier, cheaper, and faster to buy a complete bike...It's simply not the best way to go about this. It's not.

I agree with that.

Yup. OP, if I were in your situation I'd go to my favorite LBS (if I didn't have one I might try a couple) and explain to them that you want to get into racing track and are looking for a bike, and have $xxx for a budget, and ask if there's any way they can help you figure something out. Maybe they have something that's an old model year (i kind of doubt it for a track bike, but it's possible), or maybe they know of someone selling a bike in the appropriate size. As a junior who's looking at getting into racing a shop might even be willing to hook you up, there aren't a whole lot of them and it's generally good press for the community.

Quote:

Originally Posted by carleton
(Post 15660106)

A-la-carte bike building works well when you know what you need, those needs are very particular, and you know what you are doing.

Especially when you have some/most of the parts to transfer over from another bike.

phread59

05-26-13 05:25 PM

I agree with Wens. I got a Spesh Langster LasVegas edition just that way. Went into my LBS to order some parts to Fix convert an old Fuji road frame. They had an old stock barely used Langster stashed away. I got it for a song. Use it for local training rides. I too would go complete. Unless you find a great used frame for peanuts. You will likely outgrow the frame in a year or two anyway.